The following review of IAMS™ Proactive Health™ Senior Plus Large Breed dog food covers the information you will need to decide if this is the right food for your senior plus large breed dog.
The lifespan of any beloved dog is far too short. Owners of large breed dogs tend to have even less time with their pets. Generally, larger breeds such as Saint Bernards and Great Danes have the shortest lifespans while small breeds like Chihuahuas or Dachshunds may live more than twice as long. Medium-sized dogs like the Irish setter or Dalmatian usually have a lifespan somewhere in-between. Since some dog owners are passionate about large breed dogs, they want to take every option available to them to keep their dog healthy and active so they can live the longest, best quality of life possible. That starts with feeding them the right food for every phase of life.
As dogs age, they become more susceptible to a number of conditions that make it difficult for them to do many of the things they need to do to keep them healthy. The dog food that you give your dog should be formulated specifically for your dog’s age and breed to compensate for these changes. The right blend of nutrients can go a long way towards preventing some of the signs of aging that large breed dogs encounter.
What It Is
IAMS has created a specially formulated dog food for large breed dogs in the last years of their lives. It contains ingredients that support healthy bones and joints, rejuvenates immunity, and aids in maintaining a healthy weight.
Ingredients
3494 kcal/kg302.65 kcal/kg
Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal (Natural source of Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine), Corn Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Ground Whole Grain Barley, Brewers Rice, Dried Beet Pulp, Fish Meal, Chicken Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Chicken Meal, Potassium Chloride, Brewers Dried Yeast, Salt, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), Choline Chloride, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Vitamin E Supplement, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide), DL-Methionine, Vitamins (Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2), Inositol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Beta-Carotene, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, L-Tryptophan, L-Carnitine, Citric Acid, Rosemary Extract.
Special Ingredients and What They Do
IAMS™ Proactive Health™ Senior Plus Large Breed Dog Food contains a number of enhancing ingredients that help mature dogs sustain better overall health.
· FOS and Beet Pulp – Aid in digestion
· Beta-Carotene and Vitamin E – Boost immunity
· IAMS Daily Dental Care™ - Reduce tartar build-up by as much as half for overall better dental health
· High Protein Ratio – Maintain muscle
· L-Carnitine – Burn fat for better weight maintenance
· Glucosamine and Naturally-Sourced Chondroitin Sulfate – Enhance joint flexibility and joint health
Who It’s For
IAMS™ Proactive Health™ Senior Plus Large Breed Dog Food is recommended for large breed dogs aged 9 and over. To aid in digestion, IAMS recommends switching your pet to this food gradually over a four-day period by mixing increasing 1/4 ratios with your dog’s existing food.
The Breakdown
NUTRIENT ANALYSIS
Protein, minimum 25.00%
Fat, minimum 12.00%
Fat, maximum 14.50%
Fiber, maximum 6.00%
Moisture, maximum 10.00%
Calcium, minimum 0.95%
Phosphorus, minimum 0.75%
Vitamin E, not less than 150 IU/kg
DHA, minimum 0.04%
Beta-Carotene, minimum 12 mg/kg
L-Carnitine, minimum 60 mg/kg
Omega-6 Fatty Acids, minimum 1.67%
Omega-3 Fatty Acids, minimum 0.25%
Glucosamine, not less than 350 mg/kg
Chondroitin Sulfate, not less than 35 mg/kg
A Note on Meat Byproducts
There has been a lot of controversy over the use of meat byproducts. This simply means that the food uses bone, stomach, brains, and other parts of animals in the food. Parts of animals that will put dogs at risk of health conditions, such as mad cow disease, are not permitted for use in pet food. Meat byproducts are actually a good source of protein. Instead of worrying over the source of the meat, it is more important to look at the percentage of protein and the additional nutrients in the food.
All dog foods should meet the minimum standards of at least 10% protein, 5.5% fat, and 2.5% crude fiber. This dog food contains significantly more of these vital ingredients for the ultimate nutrition for your aging dog.
Cost
IAMS Proactive Health usually costs over $32 for a 26.2-pound bag but dog owners can find the best bargains at Amazon.